U.S. patent number 4,840,727 [Application Number 06/451,302] was granted by the patent office on 1989-06-20 for double bank grain cleaner and aspirator therefor.
Invention is credited to Cecil T. Humphrey.
United States Patent |
4,840,727 |
Humphrey |
June 20, 1989 |
Double bank grain cleaner and aspirator therefor
Abstract
A double bank cleaner for granular material includes two spaced
banks of cleaning decks mounted in a frame with a drive motor and
rotatable eccentric positioned between the two banks so that the
banks of decks can be gyrated in a flat, horizontal plane. An
aspirator for the double bank cleaner is also disclosed, and which
comprises a plurality of feeders each of which creates a curtain of
granular material through which air is passed to remove dust and
the like.
Inventors: |
Humphrey; Cecil T. (Burnaby,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
4121733 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/451,302 |
Filed: |
December 20, 1982 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
209/32; 209/134;
209/151; 406/119; 406/168; 406/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B02B
1/02 (20130101); B07B 1/38 (20130101); B07B
1/46 (20130101); B07B 4/02 (20130101); B07B
9/00 (20130101); B07B 11/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B02B
1/00 (20060101); B02B 1/02 (20060101); B07B
1/38 (20060101); B07B 1/28 (20060101); B07B
1/46 (20060101); B07B 11/06 (20060101); B07B
9/00 (20060101); B07B 4/02 (20060101); B07B
4/00 (20060101); B07B 11/00 (20060101); B07B
009/02 (); B07B 007/01 () |
Field of
Search: |
;209/315,254,133-137,149,151,146,147,153,154,31-37,366.5,300
;74/61,87 ;406/168,86,119,117,90 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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650578 |
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Oct 1962 |
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CA |
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892393 |
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Feb 1972 |
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CA |
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897636 |
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Apr 1972 |
|
CA |
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1014894 |
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Aug 1977 |
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CA |
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1100783 |
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May 1981 |
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CA |
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1042842 |
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Nov 1982 |
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CA |
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328775 |
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Jan 1903 |
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FR |
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0718183 |
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Feb 1980 |
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SU |
|
3481 |
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Oct 1875 |
|
GB |
|
257287 |
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Feb 1927 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Schor; Kenneth M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow,
Garrett & Dunner
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A double bank cleaning device for granular and like material
comprising:
an outer, open frame of rectangular configuration having spaced end
frames interconnected by upper and lower cross beams;
an inner frame suspended from said outer frame by universal joints
thereby to allow said inner frame to move in a horizontal plane
relative to said outer frame;
two spaced banks of cleaning decks mounted in and secured to said
inner frame, said decks having infeed ends and outlet ends
extending beyond the confines of the outer frame and adapted to
convey granular material throughout their length; and
drive means mounted on said inner frame between said spaced banks
of cleaning decks, said drive means comprising a box enclosure
secured to the inner frame, a dead shaft vertically mounted in said
box enclosure, an eccentric weight mounted for rotation in a
horizontal plane on said dead shaft and motor means for rotating
said weight thereby to impart a flat, rotary motion to said
suspended inner frame and the double bank of cleaning decks secured
therein; and including
a multi-feed aspirator for feeding granular material into said
cleaning device, said aspirator comprising a housing mounted above
said outer frame;
a plurality of horizontally disposed feed rolls mounted in said
housing, one above and forward of the other, each roll feeding a
curtain of granular material, by gravity, down through the housing
and into said infeed ends of said decks, and a plurality of ducts
directing air generally horizontally against said curtains of
granular material to carry lighter-than-grain pieces into a drop
out section.
2. An aspirator for mounting on top of a grain cleaning machine
comprising:
a housing having an intake section and an exhaust section, said
housing being adapted for connection to fan means for passing air
through said housing from the intake to the exhaust sections;
said intake section having an inlet in its upper end for receiving
granular material therein, and an outlet in its lower end for
dropping granular material into cleaning decks of said cleaning
machine;
baffle means dividing said intake section between its granular
inlet and outlet and extending generally diagonally across said
intake section;
means in said baffle means for metering granular material
therethrough in a plurality of downwardly flowing curtains
extending across said intake section; and
means for directing the air passing through the housing to impinge
upon said downwardly flowing curtains thereby to carry material
lighter than said granular material out of said intake section and
into said exhaust section;
said baffle means comprising a stepped panel extending generally
diagonally from one end wall of the intake section to the top wall
thereof, said stepped panel having a series of vertical sections
separated by horizontal sections, said metering means being located
in the horizontal sections and the air directing means being
located in the vertical sections;
said metering means comprises a plurality of feed rolls extending
across said baffle means, each feed roll being located adjacent to
and below said vertical and horizontal sections, and gate members
in the horizontal sections in contact with the feed rolls for
passing granular material through the baffle means, and drive means
for rotating said feed rolls.
3. An aspirator according to claim 2, wherein the air directing
means comprises a plurality of ducts extending between an outer
wall of said housing and the baffle means and being directed
towards the curtains of downwardly falling granular material.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to devices for cleaning granular material
and in particular to a double bank cleaner for granular material
such as grain and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been known to arrange granular cleaning devices in a double
bank configuration as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,416
of Nov. 18, 1980, Lower et al. In that device, the screening
machine is arranged in a multiple deck configuration with the feed
material being divided into separate, equal fractions as it falls
into parallel vertical channels. Each of these channels is directed
to a particular screen deck by way of a chute that diverts the
respective feed from the channel onto the screen. However, there
are disadvantages in such known devices in that the sets of decks
are actually two pairs, discharging the feed material towards the
center. The infeed is split to feed both sides of the machine, the
length of each cleaning deck being restricted to the distance from
the side of the machine to a point adjacent the center as shown for
example in FIG. 1 of the Lower patent. It will be seen from that
Figure as well as from FIG. 2 of the patent that the feed is
directed down the sides of the machine onto the decks which slope
toward the center.
Conventional machines have also been supported on the wire ropes
and the like, the strands in the rope eventually fraying and being
subjected to failure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A double bank cleaner according to the present invention overcomes
many of the disadvantages of known devices in providing two
separated sets of decks which function in a cleaning mode from one
side of the machine clear through to the other. The feeding and
discharge chutes to the decks can therefore be much simpler and as
the decks are of a substantial length a better cleaning function is
obtained. Because the two sets of decks in the present invention
function from one side of the machine to the other, each side can
be running on different materials and each side can be separately
fed. In the conventional mechanisms, the infeed is split to feed
both sides of the machine with a central takeoff and the granular
material cannot be mixed. In addition, the full length decks of the
present invention provide a much greater total screening area than
conventional devices and with both ends of the decks in the present
invention being accessible, the decks can be easily serviced for
cleaning and the like.
The double bank cleaner of the present invention also incorporates
a balanced drive system allowing speeds of rotation much higher
than in conventional cleaners than are driven by eccentrics and
linkage. The high speed flat rotary action of the present invention
presents a maximum of screen surface to granular material. This
flat rotary action is similar to the motion of a hand held sieve,
the motion to the decks actually being achieved in a similar way to
a hand sieve in that an eccentric weight is rotated to throw the
decks into a flat, circular path which is very positive and
automatically balanced.
The screening decks are mounted on an inner frame which is
suspended from an outer, perimeter frame by four needle-bearing
universal hangers which are sealed and require minimum lubrication.
Thus, there is less chance of wear and breakage as in wire rope
suspended devices.
The cleaner of the present invention may also incorporate an
aspirating device which includes a plurality of feeders each of
which creates a curtain of granular material through which air is
passed to remove dust and the like.
According to one broad aspect, the invention relates to a double
bank cleaning device for granular and like material comprising an
outer frame and an inner frame with means suspending the inner
frame from the outer frame for limited movement therein. Two spaced
banks of cleaning decks are mounted in and secured to the inner
frame and driving means is mounted on the inner frame centrally of
the two spaced banks of cleaning decks, each cleaning deck of each
bank operating to carry granular material from one end of the
device to the other. The drive means includes a rotatable eccentric
weight and a motor for rotating of the weight to impart a flat,
rotary motion to the suspended inner frame and the double bank of
cleaning decks therein.
According to another aspect, the invention relates to a double bank
cleaning device for granular and like materials comprising an outer
frame and an inner frame, connecting members suspending the inner
frame from the outer frame for a limited rotary movement of the
inner frame therein and drive means with a rotatable eccentric
weight mounted centrally of the inner frame and connected thereto
for imparting rotary movement to the inner frame. Two spaced banks
of cleaning decks are mounted to the inner frame, one bank on
either side of the drive means and operating to carry granular
material from one side of the device to the other. A multi-feed
aspirator for feeding granular material into the device consists of
a housing mounted on the top of the outer frame and includes a
plurality of horizontal disposed feed rolls mounted in the housing,
one above and forward of the other with each roll feeding a curtain
of granular material by gravity, down through the housing and into
the infeed ends of the decks. A plurality of ducts direct air
generally horizontally against the curtains of granular material to
carry lighter than grain pieces into a dropout section of the
housing.
According to a still further aspect, the invention relates to an
aspirator for mounting on top of a grain cleaning machine
comprising:
a housing having an intake section and an exhaust section, said
housing being adapted for connection to fan means for passing air
through said housing from the intake to the exhaust section;
said intake section having an inlet in its upper end for receiving
granular material therein, and an outlet in its lower end for
dropping granular material into cleaning decks of said cleaning
machine;
baffle means dividing said intake section between its granular
inlet and outlet and extending generally diagonally across said
intake section;
means in said baffle for metering granular material therethrough in
a plurality of downwardly flowing curtains extending across said
intake section; and
means for directing the air passing through the housing to impinge
upon said downwardly flowing curtains thereby to carry material
lighter than said granular material out of said intake section and
into said exhaust section.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is illustrated by way of example in the
accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic, end elevation of the double bank cleaner
according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cleaner shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the cleaner in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing
an aspirator located on the top of the device;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the
aspirator;
FIG. 6 is a end elevation of the aspirator shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a detail of the feed rolls of the aspirator shown in FIG.
5;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view of the multi-split feed
chute;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the chute taken along line 9--9 of
FIG. 8, and
FIG. 10 is a plan view of the chute.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning device according to the
invention is illustrated at 10 and includes an outer perimeter
frame consisting of upright corner posts 14 interconnected by upper
and lower cross beams 16, 18 and end members 20. An inner frame 22
comprises a floor made up of longitudinal beam members 24, cross
beams 26 and diagonal bracing members 28. This inner frame is
suspended from the outer frame 12 through a plurality of steel
hangers 30 connected at their upper ends by automotive type
universal joints 32 to the upper end beams 15 of the outer frame
and, at their lower ends, the steel members 30 support the inner
frame 22 by being connected through further automotive type
universal joints 34 to the longitudinal beams 24 of the inner
frame. While the drawings illustrate the use of four hangers 30,
this number may be increased if necessary to minimize frame
deflection.
It will be understood from FIGS. 1 and 2 that each side of the
inner frame 22 carries a stack of cleaning decks shown generally at
36 and is illustrated at FIG. 2, the decks extend at least the full
width of the apparatus 10, each deck having an infeed end 38 and a
discharge end 40. The discharge end illustrated is a two-way
discharge but could be three-way or more according to the
requirements of the device.
Mounted centrally of the two banks 36 of decks is a drive mechanism
42 comprising a box 44 secured to the inner frame and supporting
therein a dead shaft 46 and on which is mounted a large bearing and
sleeve 48 supporting an eccentric weight 50, the sleeve and weight
being rotated by means of a pulley 52 driven by suitable motor
means 54 mounted outside the drive box. Actuation of the weight 50
imparts a flat, rotary movement to the inner frame 22 and the decks
36 mounted therein.
Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4, the double bank grain cleaner 10 is
provided with an aspirator 56 mounted above the cleaner 10 on a
suitable frame or stand 58. Briefly, the aspirator precleans the
granular material by air currents before that material is fed into
the decks 36 of the rotary cleaner. The aspirator comprises a
housing 60 having an intake section 62 and an exhaust section 64.
Grain is fed downwardly through an inlet 66 in the intake section
62 and, as explained further on, carries on downwardly into a split
feed assembly 68. Cleaning air is passed in a generally horizontal
path in the direction of arrows 70 through the intake section 62
and out through the exhaust section 64 of the housing, generally at
right angles to the downwardly falling grain. Referring to FIGS. 5
through 7 inclusive it will be seen that the intake section 62 has,
in addition to the grain inlet 66, an outlet 72 in its lower end
where the granular material is fed into a shaker box or scalping
deck 74 before proceeding to the split feed apparatus 68 and
thereafter to the decks 36. In place of the scalping deck 74 an
alternate circular drum screen 75 can be used as shown in FIG. 8.
Referring to FIG. 5, the exhaust section 64 of the housing has a
large V-shaped trough 76 with a suitable conveyor 78 in the lower
end thereof. The air currents passing through the inlet and outlet
sections of the housing carry dust and other material lighter than
grain into the exhaust section 64, and dust being carried through
the exhaust outlet and the heavier material dropping down into the
trough 76 where it is subsequently carried away by the conveyor 78.
The air flow through the aspirator housing can be created by
pressure fans from the inlet side or by suction fans from the
exhaust side to pull air through from the inlet to exhaust
sections, the speed of the air flow through the downwardly falling
grain is kept at a constant speed and is assisted by the tapering
shape from the bottom surface 80 of the inlet section 62 which
extends to the point of connection between the inlet and the outlet
sections 62, 64. The air speed can of course be controlled by
either venting the air to the suction fan or by adjusting the
amount of air entering the inlet section. The air speed is adjusted
so that it will not pull the grain or other granular material into
the dropout but will only take the lighter weight pieces such as
stocks, empty wheat heads, chaff or dust.
The inlet section 62 is sub-divided in a generally diagonal
direction by a baffle shown generally at 82 separating the intake
section between its granular inlet and outlet areas. The baffle
consists of a stepped panel 84 that extends from one end wall 88 of
the housing 60 to the top wall thereof, the panel 84 having a
series of vertical sections 86 separated by horizontal sections 88.
Means are provided in the baffle for metering a granular material
therethrough in a plurality of downwardly flowing curtains of grain
90, the curtains extending substantially across the complete intake
section 62. The metering means may take any suitable form but in
the embodiment illustrated, the means comprises a plurality of feed
rolls 92 interconnected by any suitable means such as a drive chain
94 for operating in unison in response to suitable drive means, not
shown. Each of the feed rolls 92 has, as shown in FIG. 7, end walls
96 and a main drum surface 98 with a series of spaced,
longitudinally extending bars or paddles 100 secured to the surface
thereof. The granular material in the intake section 62 falls by
gravity onto the surfaces of the baffle and specifically onto gate
members 102 which are spring loaded to a point where a desired
amount of nip exists between the surface of the gate and the bars
of the feed rolls. The spring loading of the gate 102 allows it to
pass any oversized material such as stones, mice, etc. through to
the outlet 72. As seen in FIG. 7, the gates 102 are pivoted at 104
to the baffle 88, the vertical plates 86 of the baffle having an
eyebrow section 106 to prevent grain from spilling out the top of
the rolls.
Means for directing air through the housing 60 consists of a
plurality of ducts 108 which extend from the end wall 88 of the
housing through to the vertical walls 86 of the baffle 84. It will
be evident from FIGS. 5 and 7 that the uppermost banks of conduits
108 directs air underneath the uppermost gate 102 to impinge upon
the uppermost grain curtain 90 falling downwardly from the feed
roll 92. In similar fashion, each of the succeeding lower banks of
conduits direct their air against their respective associated gates
and grain curtains so as to lift the lighter weight pieces and dust
from the grain curtains and pull them into the exhaust section 64
where they will drop down into the trough 76.
It will also be noted that the end wall 88 has a plurality of
adjustable air gates 110 over the end of the conduits as well as a
lowermost gate 112 which allows inlet air to contact the lowermost
grain curtain 92a.
The shaker box 74 separates the granular material from larger
objects such as stones or small animals 114 and passes them on the
outside to a dropout pipe 116.
The aspirator of the present invention has the capacity to handle
the granular flow of high capacity, double bank grain cleaners. In
numerous types of conventional grain cleaning devices, large
capacity machines cannot be used because there is insufficient
vertical space above them to accommodate a number of standard forms
of aspirators which would be required. With the present invention,
the use of a plurality of feeders to create a number of grain
curtains through which air is passed overcomes many of the
disadvantages of known devices. It will also be appreciated that
the grain inlet gate 102 and air gate 110 are adjustable to suit
the form and type of granular material being cleaned.
FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the split infeed assembly 68 in
greater detail. On a ten deck machine of the type shown in the
drawings the chute 68 splits the flow equally to all ten decks. One
advantage of the chute arrangement of this invention is that the
flow of granular material enters the decks with the discharge
chutes all in line vertically, three vertical lines of chutes 116
being shown in FIG. 9. Conventionally, chutes are staggered and
feed to their associated decks in different positions across the
width thereof.
The infeed assembly 68 comprises a manifold housing 118 which
includes, in the example shown, thirty divisions 120, FIG. 10,
providing three equally spaced chutes 116 for each deck 36. As
shown in FIG. 9, chutes 116a for the uppermost or first deck 36a
are the narrowest in width in the manifold 68, each set of chutes
becoming wider with respect to lower decks but each set of chutes
claiming an equal amount of the downwardly falling granular
material. Thus, chutes 116.sup.G feeding the seventh deck 36.sup.G
are wide to claim the same portion of the grain curtain as the
uppermost chutes 116a.
While the invention has been described in connection with a
specific embodiment thereof and in a specific use, various
modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set
forth in the appended claims.
The terms and expressions which have been employed in this
specification are used as terms of description and not of
limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and
expressions to exclude any equivalents of the features shown and
described or portions thereof but it is recognized that various
modifications are possible within the scope of the invention
claimed.
* * * * *